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Form 1201
cuss OF SERVICE
SYMBOL
Telegra.li
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Blue
Night Message
Nite
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N L
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WESTEJffl^ UNION
AM
NEWCOMB CARLTON. PRESIDENT
GEORGE W. E. ATKINS, FIRST VICK-PRESIDENT
CLASS OP SERVICE
SYMBOL
Telegram
Day Letter
Blue
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If none of these three symbols
appears after the check (number of
words) this is a telegram. Others
wise its character is indicated by the
symbol appearing after the check.
RECEIVED AT 113 CHERRY ST., SEATTLE, WASH.
l^S muINES IOWA MAY 22 1922
REV n A RHUPES
SEOUL KOREA
HOLDCROFT AND ADAMS CAPITULATED YESTERDAY IN CONFERENCE WITH
CHOSEN COMMISSION AND MISSIONARIES UF VARIOUS FIELDS HOLDCROFT
ADDRESSED THE ASSEMBLY FAVORING ADOPTION OF THE COMMISSIONS REPORT
PART SECOND WHICH WAS ENTHUSIASTICALLY ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY
H E BLAIR
THE ABOVE TELEGRAM WAS WIRED FROM DES MOINES IOWA TO SEATTLE WASH
AND MAILED FROM THE BATTER POINT ON THE MORNING OF MAY 25 1922
W U TEL CO SEATTLE WASHINGTON
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Rev. H. A. Rhodes,
Chairman Executive Comm. Chosen Mission;
Keijo, Chosen.
Cleveland Ohio
May 31 1939 .
Dear Dr. Rhodesj-
The Assembly is nearing the end. It has in general been a good meeting. With Dr.
Sam Higginbottom as Moderator, Foreign Missions have come in for a goodly share of
honor and attention. The program of the General Council, for the promotion of all
church work has been heartily approved. This includes much that marks progress. The
various Boards have reported good work with financial shortage limiting much that should
have been done. The Pensions Board was given permission to delay giving pensions to
preachers still preaching on salaries after 65 years of age. Decrease in income required
this. The Report on Social problems came in for tense discussion and amendment. The
resolution as to War is still to be passed.
The Chairman of the Standing Comm, on Foreign llissions is Dr. Howard Moody Morgan.
Dr. Weaver K. Eubank is Secy. The ^diole Coram. has shown our vdiole Foreign work full
sympathy and good will. There has been no abatement of Mission interest. Our Popular
meeting for Foreign Missions was well attended last night even after a long hard day
of work in intense heat. The report of Coram. on Foreign Missions has been drafted and
passed by the Comm. The section on Chosen has been worked out with Dr. Holdcroft,
Mr. Soltau, Dr. Koons and members of the Board all accepting it in the, presence of the
Comm. 30 it contains nothing radical. It does re-iterate the action of last General
approving the policy of the Mission and Board to withdraw from secular education. It '
leaves the Seoul Girls School question for the Board to work out in conference with
the Mission, presumably after a conference in N.Y. about June 7th. There has been no
attempt that we know of to reverse the decision of the last Assembly and we feel that
there are many here ^^ho would rather see the action of last year rather re-inforced with
stronger action.
Mr. Reiner and Dr. Koons are both commissioners. There ard ^issipnaries
present. Miss// Bergman and Mrs. F.S. Miller. Dr. Ludlow, Mr. R%5n^. and h^ wife.
Dr. Mrs. Koons, Dr. Holdcroft and Mr. Soltau.
The cable which I received, 28th, has been reserved and no action based upon it taken.
We hope that the Board will be ready to grant the larger backing after the June Conference
if we are successful in presenting the needs at that time.
The action taken by the Executive Comm, of the Mission at Andong , I belie ve vn.ll
be determinative in the question. You are right . Stick and you will have the whole
Christian world v/ith you. That is the only kind of argument of value in such an unequal
struggle as we are in.
May God bless the Mission and give you grace to stand faithful in this day of graat
distress all over the world. The whole world needs Just what our Mission can contribute
in its witness to-day.
Sincerely,
Herbert S. Blair.
To be mailed after the meeting to-day
is over.
TaikyUf Ch*sen«
N*t. 17th. 1940
itrs. Oeerg* Uahau,
649 W. 4th St.
Ontario, Calif.
U.S.A.
Doar ura. iiahan,-
Your sistor, Uise. Edna Lawrdnoo loft Korea tne end of last week.
On Monday she s^^iled Iroa Kobo on the Yawata Maru for Yokoiiaaa. Cn
arrival at Yokohaaa eho eeone to have been renovod from the ehijp, upon
roquiaition of tho Proourators office in Seoul, whence a tolograa I'lad been 2 cnt
to the police in Yokoliuoa, it seeas, deaandint; her return to /Seoul in ccnncction
with chargee arising in connection with the trieil of eoue Korean women
ever the violation of come political ^regulation.
Mr. Jucl S. Ooetsman, Aaericau Vioe-Ccnsul, Yokolu^, secured her power of
attoraey so that he could seek the refund of hor etcamuhip fare and take charge
of ner three drafts, amounting x4 ^117.18.
Her three trunks were landed from the ship and re«cheoked to Seoul, Korea,
on her rail road tickets. The cheeks were iionded to the Procurator in Seoul
and he gave inem to a poliee official to get and bring to the Poliee-proeura^ers
office for soareh. Instructions wars given the Procurator to nave the trunks
and unneedod' baggage delivered te l\r, F. Geuso, Treas. of our Mission,
at 186 Reuohioho, Keijo, Chosen. (Seoul), in ease the tninge were no longer
required by taa poliee.
The American Consul General, Mr. 0. Gaylord Maran, lius been in touch with
your Bisters diifioulty since the matter was reported to him from ^he U.S.A.
Legation in Tokyo, probably Wed. A.!i. the 13th. !yU*. liarah given much time te
help um he could in tne mattor. h'o went porsonally to the Foreign Department,
Seoul and asked for the nighsst and best treatment ox your sister, consistent
with the laws. Also he sent Viee-Consul, Edwards with me' to the Proeurajeors
office on Friday the 15th. Z P.U. to seek to have bail arranged before tue arrival
of your sister who came in on tho 3.38 train, under police sscort. 3ut bail
was not possible and it was stated triat uuider favo:.rable conditions bail might
bs eonoidered after ten days. I was promised an intervisw at five.
At tho Station several of us tried to meet Edna. Dr. Avloon and Dr. UeAnlis
and Mr. Pieters, and Viee-Consul Edwards all saw them take her off the train and
she acknowledged their o<*eetings but no conversation was possible. I was down the
platform too far to see her there.
At live o'clock, Friday, I was given lialf an hour with your sister in the
procurator's oifics in tne prseenoe of the Procurator, Mr, G. Salto. He seems
to bs a very courtcoua gentclman and knows English so tiiat we could talk with
him freely and tills also allowed Edna and me to converse more freely. She was
well but weary of the excitement and strain. She showed no fear and was very
cheerful in her questions and answers. Only one sentence st^ks out clearly in
mind,-" I do not like CiS^ounlsm and you any you do not like Coj^nism, g e n i -m n
so I am sure that wo will get along nicely in this matter". She told me about her
feeling OK und her money and trunks at timt time. I get your address from nor
there and asked for any message but all she asked was that we keep ner trouble
out of the Kewe-papere. But I lau, nedand told ^lei^ I presumed tiiat it was all
over Aoriea before she t>et back to Seoul. She evidently wanted no word sent till
ehe could eend it herself. While tiiere I tried again to arrange bail but it
wae impossible. So I gave the naate of Mr. Geneo and told tnem'that our Mission
would £,uaranteo L'dna und put up whatever bail funds were demanded and that Mr.
and Mrs. Genso were ready to invite her to theij; home and have her appear
whenever n-sded for examination. This may bo possible after a few days. I was
sorry to nave to shake iiands au€ leave her there after about half un hour of
comfortable conversation. I could not discuss the charges at all, nor anything
eonneeted with her arrest.
2
After that I went to Ur. Gtneo's at the Yunmotkol Compound and ^.ot kr. Censo
to go with me te the Provincial Police headquarters iriiither they were removing
Edna. We took some bedding and a folding eot and a basket of dinner and seat
them in to her but were not able to see her again. Miss. Marion Hartness. of
137 RenehidOy KeiJOf has undertaken to prepare her meals and has secured a
ypung man te takd her food across the City to her thrice a day.
I am sorry that I did net ask her as te her elething. She had her
suitcases with her in the preeurator's office and I saw them searching them
with your sister helping , but I am net sure that she had sufficient heavy
woolens fer a cold room. So yesterday I wired Mr. Cense » asking him te make
suri that she oad these things provided for her. They usually previde no fire
fer those detained there.
It is net elear Just what may be helpful as to legal assistance. Presumably,
a preliminary examination may take several days, possibly ten days. After that,
in ease they find eause fer bringing definite charges against her, she will be
definitely held for trial and when that would take place would be hard to tell.
It may be better not to seeure legal counsel toe soon. The Procurator has
wide discretion in all such eases and he may find that he can free her quite
early. We surely hope so.
Of all ladies of our Mission your sister would be the last whom most of
us would dream of taking part in any illegal activities. We are quite sure
that the Procurator will oarly find that ho haeawise and saintly guest in his
taro and that he will find it his privilege to give nor all the shelter and
help allowed within the law.
Ofeourse we have net the elightest idea lirtiat nas gene wreng te get your
sister into thia treuble. ho one has theb^ least idea that she has done anything
intentionally wrong. She has dodisated her life to doing good to, others,
and her good works will show forth the more they inveatigate her eenduct.
Ac eur Uiasien Exeoutive Cam. was in sessien in Seoul at the time this
oeeurred, it was my privilege te try to help your sister ns I eould. Now
we havo scattered and Mr. Genso is probably doing much more fer ;ier than anyone
from outside could do. He has your address and will no doubt keep you informed
as to the progreasn of the ease. As he has uent a cable already, we presume
that you arc already informed of the difficulty. We all truet and pray for
an early releaeo and a speedy return to America, wiiliaer she ma procatding when
this trouble developed.
Yours sincerely,
Herbert S. Blair,
Chairman. Executive Com. Chosen
. in U.S.A.
Mission,
Rev. H. A. Rhodes D.D.
38 Alexander St. Princeton N.J. U.S.A.
Taikyu Chosen.
Dec. 30th. *40.
Dear Heidie,-
Thanks for your good letter of Nov. 29th. Rejoice in all the
quiet comforte of dear old Princetin while you may. But dont get
stuck so tight there that we will never see you out here again.
We are g^Slpng to need you as never before. Come back as soon av you
can. Not much you can do but stand and endure but that is just what
is needed now.
Everywhere the Koreans are saying that the Shrine issue is
all over now and that the next thing is the new Totalitarian,
foreign exclusion program. Distressingly disappointing to see men
participate in a ceremony of that kind one day and have them
denounce the whole thing the next day. Of course they know thiWperetly
they will have to cool their feet by the side of some of theit
friends if they refuse to attend the regular meetings where these
new programs are staged. Hooper will have copies of the Declarations,
Better get him to send copies to those most concerned.
Lillian Ross is declining to evacuate Kangkei. Daisy Hendrix
is going up to join her. That is the spirit.
They report that they had 17 at their Christmas Dinner at P.Y.
E.H. reports a grand round of Christmas festivities in Seoul. At
Chung- ju they had several out of Station guests. Here in Taikyu we
entertained Chair-yung and Andong Stations, and are going right
on with a fine series of Bible Study meetings with John Crothers
leading, So we are in the midst of things to-day, Mr. Voelkel
is the afternoon preacher.
But these gatherings remind us the more of the vacant Stations
over the country. Something terrible has happened. It just about
did somb of us up to stand there in Chemulpo and watch the two
hundred go out to their ship lying far out in the harbor. Will
the most of them ever come back? It seems to me that the battle
has only begun and that the more we have here the stronger will
our power be to hold the high positions gained by the fifty six
years off devoted toil.
Of course the churches are all going right along with their
programs. New Executive machinery has been erected to rule the
Presbyterian Church after the minds of those who want immediate
obedience in the mobilization of all life to try to save the day.
The fever is too high for us to try to do much yet. But our
presence is a vital element in the picture.
The Board's Letter 839 on"the Chosen Question*'as they call
it has just come this last week,- Christmas week. We have not had
time to digest it yet. Your article in the Presbyterian seems to
give it all the credit it deserves. It does not sounU too hopeful
as I have read it. Why so much white wash? why the threat to secure
moi*e power for the Board when that could but mean the cutting
of field autonomy? Why all the demand for thought control and the
2
denial to us of the right to write even to the members of the Board even
where a large llission has no other recourse to protest against what is
believed to be unchristian mal-administ ration/ Why all this continued
condemnation of Mission con^)laints when the issue before us is as to
how Christian Missions are to face resurgent paganism when the Board
inconsistently slurrs the issue and protects wrong doing of its workers?
If you want my reaction you have it. Better than this report is the
concrete demonstration of purpose in the Henderson case and the recent
action looking to the oS^sing of the Seoul Girls School, in case the
present plan is not accepted by the Government before Jan. 1st. Also
there is a rumor that pressure is being used to carry out the Missions
policy in reference to C.C,C. But this is not sure yet. These things are
good. Hendy has said that he has presented his resignations. I am not
able to say what that involves or promises. He still seems to be on the
job over there daily. It would be a shame to have him slip out of his
problem there lightly on the present wave of anti- foreign nationalism
in such a v/ay as to eliminate the proper witness to Christian conviction
which should be made in his withdrawal from our school.
In reference to the Board Letuer 839, we should take some action
I presume, as a Mission. We have delegated this matter to your group
of three and are happy that you have gained the central re-affirmation
' of the Board's stand from which the Foreign Council I presume has been
long leading them away by various inconsistencies. Our spontaneous
reactions here may be quite belligerent but we do not want war. We
know that contention harms the work nere more than it straightens out
the thinking of certain Board Secretaries. Confident as we may be that
no such one sided Report would have been written uy a group of neutral
Commissioners had that been called for, still we have gained much for
the right cause of the Gospel and may presume that step by step the
issues will be met in a better frame than during the past two years.
But it is evident that vigilence will be called for still. Whau action
do you suggest that we take at our Spring Sxcom. Meeting? Please let
me know at once your suggestion as to this. We do not want to take any
action which will undermine what/you have accomplished.
Our situation is not clearing up but rather grovdng more tense.
Ofcourse we have nothing to do with political developments but we cannot
but see what is doing and we know that we will be caught in whatever
difficulties arise. This being so, I contemplate the withdrawal of
most of our remaining group gradually? Also I see no call for the
hasty return of others tham those who can stand the gaff and are needed
to stand by and be prepared to go down with the ship. There seems to be
no qualification in the opposition movement now. In Japan things may be
more hopeful. Here we may look for the worst. Christian leaders who act
as tools are in the saddle absolutely and no one dares peep. We are boarding
up the TAdndows and doors of sikch buildings as ar^ not occupied.
But this does not mean that we do not need more of 3’’ou to return.
P.Y.and Seoul are being terribly depleted. Roberts and V/ill are needed,/
you and Coen are needed, just as soon as your furlo rest id over. V/e
are glad Chamness is planning to return. Arch Cambell and Allan Clark
and Geo Adams should be gotten to return as soon as possible. WTiat
about the possibility of the return of Soltau? Wont we be needing him?
There is no telling how easy or how hard things may go but the more of
us the safer for all who remain and the better the witness and influence
for perpetuation of the true Gospel standards.
Happy New Year to all of you
will and Coen. Love to Weedie.
pyt/ 3 t~
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THE BOAMDOr FOREIGN MISSIONS
OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE U. S. A.
166 FIFTH AVE. NEW YORK
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HERBERT E. BLAIR
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Apart ado if 4
Guatemala City, C. A.
July 31, 1947
Dear Dr. and Mrs. Rhodes i
The only way I will ever get a letter to you both is do it this
way. I hope you do not object to carbon copies. I have had this on
my mind for months, it seems to me.
v<e h ave hdd no word from Pasadena for so long that we don’t know
what the score is. Shirley is so wrapied up in her Gerry that she
doesn’t tell us what is happening in other quarters. Phyllis is at
work this summer in Vi/hittierj so we don’t hear much from her either.
As for Florence, I don’t really knov/ who owes whom a letter. I prob-
ably am the guilty one. -^^nyway, I often remember that just aoout a
year ago all were under the same roof— strange as it seems now
that we are more or less scattered to the four corners.
The day my old college annual came from Korea was something to be
remembered. Not until yesterday could I ewen remotely imagine where
it was found. But from the Korea Klipper I see that lots of books were
found in the Pieters attic. So I suppose that was the place. After
having Ijiven everything up lor lost and never expecting to see any of
our things again, it was like someone from the dead. The precious
Korea dust on its covers was left there. I didn’t have the noart to
wipe It off.
I notice too that tixere is a Korean desk in the attic. I suppose
It could just as well be mine as anybody’s else. It seeras that Mrs.
Genso is asking, for any markd of identification. V/al.lace gave me mine
for a weadin'^ present, and I do hope this turns out to be it. Though
I am not sure what I cpuld do about it if it is mine. Having it sent
here is out oi the question, 1 fear. Of course, I am crossing the
bridge long before I get to it. ^yhow, the only thing that I can think
of IS a crack all down the door which is on the right as you look at it.
left 10%# of letters and, stuff in mine and I have the key. I wonder
if Dr. J^odes would speak \to Mrs. Genso about it. I wish 1 were there;
I bet I could find several 'things that mean something to me; but i.ave
no value otherwise.
A good oit of the time we think that we are in Guatemala to stay;
but when letters come from Korea, we weaken. And I mean weaken. Just
after we ciune back last fall the first letters came; while we were at
Annual meeting, to be exact, halace had just told the Lission that we
were going to ask for a x^ermanent transfer; but those letters headed us
off. Still, we feel that "^uatemala needs us more than Korea does. *^ou
have no idea how much there is to do here. k.nd wg seem to get along so
slowly; not we personally, but the Cause. 'vVhile Wallace speaks Korean
well, 1 do not; but ^ do get along with *^panish. 'I feel that bhere is a
place here for but I am not sure tiiere is Korea. ^ couldn’
much. So I feel tnat my wanting to ^o back is mostly * self ish*
in the final analysis, we shall
U. So ,e don’t Know.
I don’t type well; but I can do better than t Is looks) this type-
wri cer IS too old. :.e hear tnat there is new one lor us at the .^oara,
on the
it would
getting it from t. ere to here is the big problem. A bunch of folks
ca me down from New york Just lately; ^ wish somebody had been on the
ball and sent it with them. Wallace is of the dpinion that the type-
writer maybe wasn’t even there when they legt. But 1*11 bet it was.
\Ve shall probably have to wait until ^hristi^s, when a group of the
Baord’s Seminar comes down.
Every once in a while we wonder if Dr. Rhodes ever got his birth-
day present we sent him last year.
I have an English class at our boys* school coming up now in a few
minutes. It nearly finishes me; the kids are so irresponsible and lack-
ing in Just plain ordinary honesty. It is not ground into them from the
beginning. The school does all it can to correct this lack; but you
know now it iss give me a child until he is 7 or 8 and you can have
him.
Our youngsters are ge ting along. ‘“.Ibert has not been well for
sometime. He has had a round of worm medicine and still is not well.
Lola -Beth continues her own unique self. Befroe many mohths have
passed we are to be moving out to our fiission Pamj that means that I
Siiall have to teach Lola Beth. She looks forward to it; and I do too.
The only tning is that iiie will not have her companions every day.
ICrs. Idiodes, I do want to bear from you. I seems such a long time
since we left you standing outside the House of R^st. And Dr. Rhodes,
we want to hear from you--tell us all about Korea— everyttiing.
v;ith e. lot of happy memories.
\r>
31 January 1932
Dear Dr. Rhodes,
I have been intending to \vrite you ever since I
read your article on Gutzlaff in the November number of the
FIELD. Thanks so much for it. All these footprints of the
past become more and more valuable as time passes. So much
g is lost at best ^ that we should guard and put on record every
* item possible. Last year I picked up the THREE VOYAGES in
which he gives an account of his visit to Korea that you
I mention. I see from Dr. Horace *s Catalogue that you have a
» copy of it in the Landis Library. These things that happened
/ a hundred years ago all had to do with preparing a way for
us who came after. Many thanks for your investigating mind
that keeps constantly on the alert for facts and data that
are of interest. The difference between us and the savage
is that we know what has gone before and he doesn^t poor
chap . ’
The YEAR BOOK of PRAYER has ^ust come to hand and I have
it at my elbow. I am so glad that the list still holds on
so much of it unbroken. On page 33 however , where I read
Rev. William M. Baird and all his many duties now stands
a blank. His memory is a very sweet one, modest, true and
faithful, what can beat it^ I have a list of letters nine of
them I run off as the verse recordsZi l.j.pj l.g.g; f.m.t,
and I know of no one who lived them out more truly than
Dr. Baird. I am glad I knew him and that he was a friend of
mine .
Your troubled days grow apace in Asia. Where will this
Manchurian dispute land the world next. We have Just been
hearing of the attack on Shanghai and the dreadful havoc
done. The Commercial Press, the great printing house for the
whole country, has been destroyed along with a great loss
of life. I see we have forty missionaries or more there not
counting the children. They will all be greatly distressed
by these doings. The day of universal peace is not yet though
some of my acq.uaintances tsfZk talk confidently of a warless
world just in sight, just round the next corner. The poor folk
in Shanghai could give an emphatic denial to any such world
as yet.
We are looking foarward to a visit from the Genso*s early
in the summer. How nice it will be to have with us once more
members of our Korean family. The years that are gone keep
returning again and again in silent processions through the
mind as we call up this and that^but^best of all is when we
actually see the faces and hear the voices. We did enjoy Mrs.
Sharrocks and her daughters. A very short visit it was but
nowforgotten. ^
^ When will you and Mrs Rhodes be passing England? Or
Helen, Paul or Howard? ’iVhen you do we shall welcome you as
visitors from a planet we used to live in, a daer old p’anet
hundreds of years ago it would seem. . LiiL
'fiiCOLU)diL0J^ OIL
1 .
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•PHONE 4161
__
Court House News: ,
Ex-Missionary Leaves 5,000 Yen
In Japanese Bank to Sister Here
Orlando, Central Florida Furnishing Scores Of *
Motor Mechanics to Army— Coroner's Inquest ■
In Wewahootee Shooting Set Monday
By JOHN FORNEY RUDY j
One of the most unusual wills ever filed in County Judge John G. '
Baker’s office was revealed yesterday when letters of administration
were granted to Elizabeth Best Ford as administratrix in the estate of ]
her late sister, Margaret Best, who died in Orlando April 15. i
Miss Best, formerly a missionary in Pyongyang, Chosen, Japan, ,
bequeathed 5,000 Japanese yen to<* — ^
three sisters and a brother in the Kobe, Japan, and a bank in Seoul,
United States. The money is on Korea,
fixed deposit in the Hongkong and j
Shanghai Banking Corporation of !
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F.y Dear Rhodes;-
Fairfield Iowa,
Kay 17/1911
Thank you so much for keeping me posted
about affairs in KangKai. Ever3r scrap of news from the field is
received with delight. I am. sorry that you have had such a difficult
situation to meet-- I knov; how it hurts for a man to see his church
rent asunder by such devilish work as has been m.anifested, but then
these situations will arise as long as the Qevil goes around like a
roaring loon. If you fellows up in Eang -Kai had no problems you
would Jbecom.e jelly fish, and tha^twould be a sad state of affairs.
We "mdsy" along in about the sario^ach day, and let m.e tell you that
it is ^getting to be most dreadfully monotonous. V/’e are longing ,
longinP^ LONGIN'!, for the day that will see us started on the way
hom.e. Kit has been a long hard pull trying to regain that priceless
thing that I lost, m3'’ health. Rhodes guard your health as you
would guard the apple of your eye. If you do not knov; how to eat
aright, by all means learn how; and if you drink coffee, do for the
sake of your health and your work, give it*up. When 3;ou drink a cup
of coffe you take into your system four grains of caffeine, and for
all practicle purposes caffeine is the same as uric acid. The only
thing that is accomplished b3’’ taking that cup of cdiffee is that you
have placed an added burden upon the liver, for it has to strain out
the poison that you piit into the blood when you took the coffee.
Is it an y wonder that people get torpid livers when the3'’ use their
livers in that way? Nobody ought to have a torpid liver, people
would not have such a thing if the 3'" treated them:selves right.
You couldnt possibly get an3>^ kind of an]|imal to drink a decoction
of coffee, simpl3’- because the anim.al’s natural inst inttstell him
that the stuff is a poison and he absolutely refuses to take it.
The only difference between the alchohol habit, and the m.orphine
habit, and the cocaine habit, ahd the coffee habit, is simpl3?- a
difference in degree. The ver3; fact that people who are slaves
to the coffe habit, cannot miss their morning cup of coffe without
having a headache all day^ is proof positive that the drug is in^'urious.
Y’ou m*ay call me a crank, a fl3'‘ wheel, an eccentric, or any$fi$^i|.,;; old
thing, but from now on as long as I live I am going to know the food
value of the stuff that I Jrake into my stom.ach, and I want to tell
you that I do not propose to put anything there that will injure my
health. This morning I went out on ;bhe track and ran half a mile,
and in a few da3’'s I expect to do a mile. On june 2nd. I will be
fifty years old and on that day I expect to be able to do three
quarters and perhaps a mile. For months I have not touched flesh
foods and I never expect to eat them again. It has taken me months
to get started but praise the Lord I am on the up grade. Three m.onths
ago it was all I could do to run a block, ^ It is worth everything
Rhodes, to conserve that pticeless thing that We call health, the
value of which is above rubies, I will not charge 3 t-ou an3’'thing for
this lecture. Gine my love to all the Station.
Most sincerel3r yours.
0^3. Kju>^ ztlxjdir
"LILk iJUIlJZ/ji
auowC jA
dLx.
Illy dear PriendS
GEORGE SHMNON McCUNE
Mo-untain Rest
Lithiay Ms.ss.
29. 1937
Have you "been saying, "TOiat a. long time ajid no letter from Dr. McCune”? Well,
better late thau never, I could give alibis but one or two will be sufficient— Busy
for the Boa-rd of Eoreign Missions among the churches is one ree.son and laxik of funds
ejiother, (in Korea the small cost was met by friends.) New friends ha.ve been made
ajid I am sending them the first letter. Have you forgotten me?
I have so much news I don*t know where to begin. Have you been reading the pa,-
pers about the Japanese aggression in China? Isn*t it awful? Well, you can imagine
after you read the enclosure on the "Shrine Situa-tion" that it would seem quite im-
possible for us to return to Korea now, ¥asn*t it good of the Sunday School Times,
Philadelpliia, Pa. to publish "Can Christian Missionaries Sanction Shrine Worship?"^
In June 6 th and 13 th issues the facts thal so many friends have been asking for were
published. They cut out the pages and gave them to me to send to my friends. I
hope you will take the Sunday School Times, It gives fearlessly the truth on vital
onestions of the day and the very best Bible notes published anywhere. If you are
a Sunday School teanher or pupil you cannot do without it. Well, that's the biggest
news.
Now you are waiting to hear about iiq'’ wife's recovery, I wrote you that it was
nothing short of a calamity. On November 6 th she ha.d the operation, a silver pin
being put through the bone instead of her being put in a cast. She can never say
"Silver and gold ha.ve I none," anjr more. Three months in the hospital, then on her
crutch and brace for three months more. Now a cane is used, 1.1^1 But she is plucky.
And are we ha.ppy?
I'm sure you want the news of the children. The Kingdons (Anna Catherine, our
oldest de.ughter) have completed a. year in their new church. Pilgrim Congregational,
in Honolulu, where Robert is pastor. Their three children, Robert McCune O'', Anna
Carol (6), and Henry Shannon ( 3 ) axe growing and in fine health. Do you raaall ten
thousand Koreans at their mid-week service praying for our son McAfee at death's
door five years ago? Prayers were answered. He recovered and came to America. In
1935 ^6 received his M.A, degree and taught in the University of California last
year. In June he received one of the much coveted a.waxds from California State Uni-
versity, the Mills Tra.vel Fellowship of $l600. He will conplete residence work on
his Ph, D, degree this summer. His wife, Eveljrn, (da.ughter of Dr, Becker, a mis-
sionary in Korea), and da.ughter, Helen Louise ( 3 ). will sail with him for Japan,
Korea and China, in September, It seems almost a miranle, doesn^t it? Helen Marga-
ret, (Do j^’ou recall "Throxigh Peggy's Ife^es"?), has been such a. joy and comfort. Be-
cause of her faithful and efficient work in Columbia. University, New York, the de-
gree of M. A. was granted her in June. And our youngest. Shannon, you may recall
married Edith Blair (da.ughter of Dr. and Mrs, Blair, missionaries in Korea.) a. year
ago. He taught in Syracuse University and received his M. A. degree there. He has
been granted a Fellowship at Clark University where he will continue work on his Ph.
D. Degree, In our rejoicing we will say as we do in Korea, alter reciting such
blessings, "TShat wonderful Grace of GodJ"
We are here in the Berkshires with a. fine company of missionaries (e.bout 60
including children) having such a. refreshing time with perfect clima.te and delight-
f-ul fellowship. We are in Judson Cottage,
Wha.t of the future? All in His hands a.s it has a.lways been with us. One
door shuts. God opens another. We are waiting to see vdia.t the Will of our Lord
is. Pray for us. We are ha.ppy in a. sort of reckless a.ba.ndon to the Will of God.
Most sincerely yours.
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
CO-OPERATINQ BOARDS
PAC8BYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE U. ■. A.
O. R. AVISON, M. D. LL. O.
H. H. UNDERWOOD. PH. D.
VICE-PRESIDENT
Chosen Christian College
SEOUL. KOREA
MCTHOOIST CPItCOPAL CHURCH
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. SOUTH
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sept, bth, iy32
My dear i)r. Rhodes:
Your good letter liTritten on July luth on ’’President Taft”
was forwarded to me at Sorai Beach but l have had no opportunity
to go into the matter further, i twice set out to go over to
Sorai and consult the date on i.iT. mcj^enzie ’ s grave but failed to
do so. On the other hand, 1 am as certain as it is numanly possible
to be that ivjr. ivioKenzie died not at the beginning of the summer
but in the middle of the summer wnich would correspond with your
date of July 26th or 25th and bring the dedication of the church
to August 3rd. I know that we had already been sometime at our
Ban Bang house for the summer when^^the messenger came , arriving
one afternoon while we were all at^prayer meeting and i can remem-
ber very distinctly the hurry and rush of my father and, i think.
Dr. Wells in getting ready to go dov;n to Sorai to do what they
could for ivir. tickenzie.
in regard to the baptism at Sorai, 1 think I can ascer-
tain the state by consulting the diary of my father's two trips
whxch I have at my home. My recollection is that the baptism was
done during the first trip but i will look the matter up and let
you imow as soon as possible,
in regard to the two elders who were supposed to have
been elected when the West Gate Church was organized in the Fall
of 18b7, 1 was much puzzled, i have always understood that wnen
Soh Sang iun was elected an elder some years later that he was
one of the first to be so chosen so that i am considerably puzzled
as to the statement that any elders were chosen at sc early a
date. However, I am writing to the Rev. Soh Kyung Jo who is now
in Tientsin to ask him if he can throw any light on the question
and I will write you as soon as 1 hear from him.
One reason why I have not written you before is because
of the deep regret 1 feel over your decision to leave the College.
I have expressed myself on the subject so frequently to you that
I shall not trouble you with further arguments at the present
time, but 1 certainly regret the whole matter very very much indeed
and wish that there were seme way by which ’you could be brought
to change your mind and finish out with us the service which you
have given to Korea and which you have so ably given to us in the
G.C.C. The loss of yourself and Dr. Billings in one year is a
loss to the spiritual and religious forces of the College which ws
can harl^ affoid and i do not just see how your places are to be
filled or who can be found to speak your message and do the work
which you have done, i have the highest respect for Ivt. Coen .
and should he come in your place 1 shall welcome him with open
arms hut I am quite frank to say that I doubt whether he will
be able to do just the peculiar service which you have done.
He will not comraand for sometime the respect you have commanded
and his words will not carry a weight of your words.
Things are moving very fast apparently for within the
space of a few months we lose Dr. Billings and yourself and are
probably soon to have Dr. R. K. Smith as our College Physician
for at least a year. This, I think, is a step and plan which
holds a great promise for the future both for the Smiths and for
ourselves. No one can tell, of course, whether the e:q>eriment
will be successful or not but there are many of us wno believe
that in different surroundings and a different community that
Dr. and Ijts. Smith may still be successful worKers and certainly
the college community is in great need of a qualified physician
for our staff, our students, for the children’s clinic which we
have tried to establish, for the agricultural students who will
be here this fall and for the rural com unities around us. As
I wrote to Dr. Smith this is in i.iany ways a very great opportunity
for the right man and we can only pray that the right nan may be
f ound .
,!e all had a very good summer at Sorai and our family
returned hone on the ’’Black Duck” (all seven of us). \'!e were
taken by^atorm. ana took rei'uge on an island for five days, uur
non-arrival caused great excitement and it was reported in the
newspapers that we had been missing for eight days and we were
probably drowned. This caused considerable excitement and since
our safe return we have been overwhelmed by messages of congratu-
lations and love which are very gratifying and pleasing, although
we feel rather ashamed to have caused so much concern for us over
nothing,
Rlease give our very kindest regards to Llfs. Rhodes and
to all three of your children, and believe that whether you come
to the College or whatever may be your work our hearts are with
you and that we shall look forward to welcoming you back to Korea.
Yours very sincerely.
CHICAGO OFFICE 77 W. WASHINGTON STREET
BAN FRANCISCO OFFICE 228 MCALLISTER STREET
THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS
OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
156 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK lO. N. Y.
William p. Schell
Supervising Secretary
DIVISION OF SPECIAL. GIFTS AND ANNUITIES
Miss Ruth Elliott, Director
Horace H. Underwood
Acting Director
May 2hA9h^
Dr .Harry A.Rhcdes
229 Wilson Avenue
Uniontov.Ti, Pennsylvania,
I?y dear Dr .Rhodes-
Your note written on ¥a.y 22nd v.-C-s received yesterday
and I an very glad to know that you are thinking of writing the article
you mention. I have no desire to trespass, on that field and if I did,
do not seem to find the time to get dovm to it. Your own work on the
History of the Church gives you much better equipment than mine. I shall
Bv-Tiit with interest your article and hope that it may have wide circulation.
In regard to my own trip, it became apparent something
over a month ago that there w^ould be no hope of my getting to China as a
missionary. About the same time, the organi?:ation vhich had previously
been in touch with me again contacted me with a proposition that I go out
as an employee of the Government. After several trips to Vfashington, I
have consented to do this and i am to report in Washington on the morning
of June 12th. According to their present plan I shall be in Washington
for about a week, after vhich I will return to Brooklyn and they expect
that I wil] fly to Chine sometime between June 20 and 27. I do not yet
myself know the exact nature of the v/ork they wish me to do in China except
that it is, of course, connected with Korea and Koreans, The officers of the
organization have indicated their complete willingness to have me do either
religious or philanthropic work in my spare time, and i hope in this way
to be able to do at least a part of the work which I wanted to do as a
missionary. Furthermore, I do not share the prejudice against Government
employ which some of our religious leaders seem to have, I even dare to
hope that while in such employ I may be able to be of some service both to
Korea and to our own country. If the above plan works out, I should be in
China by the first of July, There is also quite a strong probability that
Dick will arrive in the seme locality by the end of summer or early fall.
He will, of course, be in the Army, but it seems probable that he will be as-
signed to work with my organization. Of course, any and many changes are
possible, but this is the way the set— up looks at the present time.
IliiU/EC
Chosen Christian College
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
H. H. aNDBRWOOO, PH. O.. LITT. D.
Dr, H. A. JUiodes
38 Alexander street
Princeton, New Jersey
Ky dear Dr, Rhodes;
Your letter of March 5th came to hand in yesterday’s mail and many thanks for
the same, in regard to the p.M.B.S. the price of all real estate is now regulated by the
government and we find that it will be impossible to get more than ¥200,000 for the property
and the terms and arrangements for payment are exceedingly doubtful, A further suggestion
has come from Dr. K. S. Oh tiiat we rent the entire property to him for a period of three
to five years. This seems to many of us far in a way the best plan yet. It allows the
P.M.B.S. zaidan hojin to retain the title to the property with the hope that at the expira-
tion of this period it may be possible to re-open work. It takes off from our shoulders
the responsibility and the bother of rents, eviction of undesirable tenants, property
management, etc., while providing for a moderate income from the property, on account of
the present exchange regulations and rate of exchange^to sell for ¥200,000 at present would
mean that we were getting not more than about ^40,000 for the property. This money could
not be easily transferred out of the country and the question of sale would immediately
bring up the whole question of the status of the zaidan hojin, its continuance or the trans-
fer of its rights to seme other organization of a similar nature. This in turn would raise
a question as to what constituted similarity and you can see for yourself th^t the^^ight
be a very considerable. difference between what the courts considered to be a'similar in-
stitution and what Mr. Pierson consider to be a similar institution. Miss Kinsler is still
of the opinion that the best thing to do is to sell the property. However, Dr. Miller,
Dr. Koons and I strongly favor this plan of rental which means a still further suspension
of the work of the school, but leaves the door open for continuance under the possibility
of better conditions. Dr, Miller and Dr. Koons feel with me that there is no reason
supposed that bank deposits will have any greater degree of security than real estate, in
fact, we are inclined to believe that for holding purposes real estate is a better risk,
I expect to see Dr, Oh again in a few days and will talk over with him the possible terms
of such a lease, I find myself rather embarrassed by Miss Kinsler’s opposition as I con-
stantly feel as my own position as Chairman of the Board is one in which I do not belong,
I am not anxious to do anything contrary to the desires of the friends in America and
only wish to preserve for use according to the original purpose of the donor this valuable
property, I
In regard to my own position, my previous letter refer to the fact that although
Blair last year indicated very strongly that the only difficulty in the way of continued
happy relationships with the Mission was my retention of the position of president. He
and Clark and others have now conveniently forgotten all this and are insisting that the
title of honorary president or president aneritus which the Board of Managers has given me
and my election as a coopted member on the Board of MiUnagers are contrary to the Mission
policy that they constitute rebellion, etc. etc. It is our understanding here that the
wording and meaning of both Board and Mission action referred to positions of ’’administra-
tion and control". Non representative membership on a large Board is certainly neither
administration ^RitiPr control i^ile the title is purely honorary and carrietS' no powers what-
soever. Dr. Blair a]^so wrote ^ to me statiij^ my attitude and policies were‘'’anti-Christian*^
that I was'Vebellious', '^defiant , and'^unfair. I have twice written him asking him to
specify in what particulars I was wither rebellious or defiant and have not, yet, received
any answer. The spirit in the Mission continues much as it has been through all these
SEOUL, KOREA
April 2, 1941
- 2 -
Apr. 2, 1941
Dr. Rhodes
years Vtfhen failure to abjectly acquiesce in the decisions of the machine is considered
rebeAious. The same spirit was shown in the grave reluctance of the Committee to do
anything for the Seoul Foreign School, although the P.Y.F.S. was closed and they themselves
stated that they had no expectation of re-opening it. The Executive Committee finally
passed permission for our extention of furlough, but it was only done due to the enforced
absence of Dr. Blair, and Dr. Clark from the meeting. According to latest decision there
is to be no annual meeting? this year lest there might be unexpected opposition to plans
of the Executive Committee. It is all very discouraging and I am very weary of these con-
stant struggles against fellow workers, against the unsympathetic sections of the powers
that be and against that portion of the church which sees in the present situation an
opnortunity to grab property and privileges to vrtiich it has no reeLL claim. If it were not
for a streak of combined with the conviction that i would lose my o\»n self-
respect I would gladly sell everything we have and retire to live somewhere peacefully
and quietly at home. It is fairly plain that a large section among the controlling powers
would rather we were not here. It is equally plain that such men as Bemheisel, Clark,
Hill, Kinsler, Reiner, Blair and lass Klnsler, Miss Butts, Miss G. Bergman would be glad
to get rid of us. When you add to this the undoubted fact, there is at least a section
or group in the Korean Church which shares these views^ tt se^s as though it must be
worse than folly to insist on staying on. However, I can only adl according to my own
conscience which thus far says,'^stay, Blair and his gang seem to think that this is for
some selfish purpose of my own pleasure, while I do not care a great deal what such mewii
think. I sometimes wish that they knew how much I would like to be out of the whole
business and how much easier it would be to "kow-tow" to the Co»v\« as one is expected
to do rather than keep on fighting. Despite all their talk about conscience it never
seems to occur to them that people do sometimes do unpleasant things for conscienous sake.
It is possible, of course, that conditions will change so drastically here that the
government itself will solve the problem both for me and for the Mission. The la\test
case in which a number of vwomen missionaries were charged with undesirable activities is
not yet settled. At present it looks as though it might be settled very satisfactorily,
but so long as certain sections continue to regard all such activity with such suspicion
there is no telling what the next case will be or what new developments would be made up
from this case. The officials have been very courteous in their conduct of the case and
I think no one has any complaint to make on that score.
There is not a great deal of local news except that the 7inns left yesterday and
Dr. McAnlis leaves today. The Genso*s are planning to go in June and the Pieters at the
same time. Mr. Pieters just met with a very serious and unfortunate accident. He was
alone in the old Avison^s house and opened a door which opened inward and down cellar
stairs. He fell the whole length of the stairs and knocked himself unconscious. Sometime
later, he regained consciousness and managed to climb up stairs and called for assistance.
He had a deep cut in his head, two broken ribs, and two cracked ribs. The rest of the
Station is in reasonably good health though Mias Kinsler seems to be up and down a good
deal of the time, Mr. Reiner is in Seoul preparatory to taking over the Treasurer’s work.
In the C. L. S. we have arrived at a compromise by which the Board of Managers as at
present constituted retains the title of the property and the administration of the
building and endowment. The other affairs of the society are turned over for a period of
three years to a Special Comnittee consisting of Dr, J, s. Ryang, Dr. L. G. Paik, Prof.
C. H. Lee, Rev. James K. Chung, Bishop C. S. Chung, Rev. K. S. Synn, Rev. M. C. Lee (Holi-
ness Church), l^r. U. K. EU, Dr. K. S. Oh and Dr. T. H. Yun^ With Dr. j. s. Ryang as
general secretary^^is is to take effect on May 1st. The plan has the ajjproval of the
authorities and seem 5 to be the only .?ay out of an almost impossible situation. In the
College, you have doubtless heard that Dr. Yun is president; Dr. Matsumoto, vice-president;
Mr. XT. K. Yu is head of the administrative section; Dr. s. J. Chey, Treasurer; Prof. p. c.
Kim, Director of the Science Department; Prof. Hyo Rok Kim, Director of the Cocanercial
Department and Prof. Yang Ha Lee, Director of the Literary Department with Mr. ITikaido
as Librarian. There are drawbacks to this set up, but we hope and daily pray that they
may be able to preserve the Christian character of the institution. The coranunity now
gathers at the Seoul union for our church services and 25 or 30 is a large congregation.
Dr, T^hodea
' 3 '
April 2, 1941
Last Sunday my son preached his first sermon. Next Sunday, I am to preach and Dick and
Grace are to join the church. It is our hope that Miss Hartness can teach the Seoul
Foreign School next fall or if not that we can get some other teacher. The Davidson’s
are probably leaving for good this summer. The Moores of Pyongyang and i:r. Sauer of this
city expect to leave as soon as the present case makes it possible. Spring seems late in
coming, but is gradually arriving, ’ye think of you all and \«ait anxiously for the time
when we may see you back on the field.
HHG/DTA
JLtxsvue Ccr€/V\ CLSUL
NORMAN CLARK WHITTEMORE
2747 Hillegass Avenue
Berkeley 5, California
October 11, 1951
My dear Harry:
In going through my letter file before starting dictation
this morning, I turned up a letter of last March 1,1 am afraid I
have never answered. From that you are referring to*^eedie*being
up in Hayward for the arrival of another child. Since I received
this letter I think I have sent you some communications and
referred to one of our class regarding one of our second generation
workers who is; now located a few miles out in the country in a fast,
growing suburb of Oakland. In this last letter of yours you refer
to Doctor Hirst being in very frail health. You refer to my June
birthday and you gave the correct number of years. Ned and Grace
gave me a very nice birthday party down at their house and are
taking very good care of me now in my house.
If you are able to get out any supplement to the Mission
History I hope you will send me a copy even if it is onl^^ mimeo-
graphed form. You refer to Roderick Irvin; also told that he was
dead. I get a good deal of news about our Korea friends from the
Korea Clipper and try to make notes on<a»y people whose addresses are
given and also remove from my card catalog those vidio have passed away
I recently had a letter from Hugh Miller which I took down to
the house of one of our neighbor's on the next block and they told me
considerably about Miller's family history and also of his first wife
sad death.
I hope you and* Wee die** are both keeping well and if you are
up this way again that I will have a chance to see you. Howard's
new church is not so very far away but I do not get a chance to get
nut there except when son Ned is able to drive me or I have a Univer-
sity student in for some driving. Write me when you can and let me
know how you and Weedie are faring.
Sincerely yours ^
C
NCW/ec
NORMAN CLARK WHITTEMORE
2747 Hillegass Avenue
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Berkeley 5, California
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Dear Friends and Relatives:
The Advent season is here, or as some would call it "Kingdom Tide, " and before
many more days have come Christmas will be here, the day we celebrate too often only
with feasting and parties and forgetting the real spiritual significance of the day.
Besides the religious services in which we may participate, may it bring you all
real happiness, as many of you may be able to gather with your families or friends for
the usual festive meals. Even should any of you be too far away from your families
may the day bring you much joy and pleasure as you assemble in Churches or other meet-
ing places for the conmemoration of the coming of the Christ which has meant so much
true blessing to us all.
I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving day. Here, after the Central Berkeley
Union Service at the First Congregational Church, daughter Grace had invited my sister-
in-law, Mrs, Hodgkin and Dr, Hodgkin, to our home for a midday dinner.
For me, the first year since the death of ay dear wife, I have been well taken
care ofj first by a cousin from New York, and now by my son and his family who have
come to live with me, as most of you doubtless know, and have kept me from being too
lonesome, I have conqjaratively good health and am able to get out for exercise and
rides although my doctor doesn’t approve of my driving ay car, I can go to meetings
in moderation, and I am looking forward to a family gathering in San Francisco on
Christmas when all the nearby relatives will gather at the home of one of the nieces,
\
To our Korea friends, especially those who have returned to the Orient, I would
say that the Koreaites left here in the East Bay are reduced to our household (Ned
being the only one of whom has seen Korea), the Frank Herron Smiths, the Dick Bairds
who live on this same street but over the Oakland line, Dorothy Adams up near the
University and as busy as ever, the Reiners are way up in Martinez. The E, H, Millers
are in Santa Barbara, also the Cyril Rosses, the Ben Adams in San Francisco, and the
Charanesses and the Henry Adams over in San Anselmo,
We have recently had a long rainy season which has kept many of us indoors, but
the'- prospects are better now.
This letter takes my heartiest good wishes to you all for a happy time and the
opportunity for many of you to gather with friends, if not with families, I enjoy
hearing from my friends, and if you have not alreacfy written me I trust you will do so
before this year is gone.
Sincerely your old friend an d
NCWtlran
March 31st 1949
My Dear Dr. and Mrs •Rhode si
Your good letters came yesterday but last night I was too dead
tired to do anything but go to bed. It is letters from our ’’own” like you
that mean the most to us,tho we do apprecaite the letters from others
too. I have sent to the children and to the Board a long account of the
'9 i
funeral. I have suggested that possibly the Bd might have it mimeographed
for friends like you who would be interested in it. I simply cannot
write it over and aover again by my stupid hunt and punch method.
It was a wonderful demonstration of love and sympathy. I shall
never gorget it but you will undertand me when I say I wish I had never
had to see it. I thank G!od for everything in the last 33 years except
my own shortcoming which today I bitterly regret. I thank Him for John
and Horace and Joan here. The night after the funeral we had the collejiz.
Board to dinher here and Joan took the other end of the table for me
so sweetly and graciously that it was almost too much for me.
I am trying to get badk in the work again but it is hard sledding,
I walk over the hill and wonder why Ethel is not puffing beside me, I look
to meet her in the halls or wait for her cheery greeting when I open
the door in a now silent house.
Tell people however that the Koreans are still here the need is
still here and the greater since she is gone. Tell missionaries who
are afraid*t’to stay at home!. but for heavens sake find some who are
not interested in "^aTety First” to come . Actually I still dont think
we are in any great danger. I have a great pile of letters to write
so cannot write more even to you who meant so much to Ethel and mean
so much to me
Yours Sincerely
Telephone Watkins 9-2000
’*^(ia^le "Xadress "Inculcate, New York”
doreign Missions and Overseas Jnterehureh Serviee
The Board of Foreign Missions
of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
156 Fifth Avenue, New York 10, N. Y.
March 17, 19h9
To Members of the Korea Mission
Dear J^iends;
The Board has been shocked to hear first over the radio, then by news
report, and now by a cable from the Executive Secretary of the Korea Mission that
Mrs, Horace Horton Unden^ood was shot on March 17 th and died almost instantly. We
have sent a cable expressing our deepest sjTnpathy and are awaiting further information.
In the meantime, in order that you may have what information we have, we
are giving you a copy of the cable sent by Rev, Edward Adams from Seoul, Korea, at
5:28 p.m,, March 17, 19li9:
"EIHEL UNDERIVOOD SHOT BY UNIDENTIFEED ASSAIUNT DIED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.”
We are also giving you a copy of the International News Service report.
This gives details which^ as yet, have not been confirmed,
”Mrs, Ethel Underwood, a Presbyterian missionary in Korea for twenty- five
years, was fatally shot during a women’s tea party in her Seoul home
today, ‘
’’Two masked assassins fired two shots from an American carbine in what
authorities describe as ’a political slaying’,
’’The missionary xvas born Ethel Van Wagoner in Kingston, Michigan,
’’The hooded masked men opened fire as she came to the front door to
investigate the noise of a house boy scuffling with one of the assassins,
Mrs, Underwood died of a pe.i^orajbed.. liver on the way to the hospital.
Another shot was fired at an unidentified woman but missed its aim, A
speal^er at the party v.’as scheduled to talk against communism. The
unidentified slayers escaped,
”The killing occurred while Mrs, Underwood and her husband were giving a tea
party,
’’The husband, Horace Underwood, is a teacher at Chosen (Korean) University,
’’Officials state they believe the motive for the assassination was political,
since no robbery was involved and lirs, Underwood was known to sympathize
with the conservative cause in Korea,”
The "New York Times" gives a different version, v^hich in turn is taken
from the reports of the Associated Press and the United Press, as follows:
"One report said Mrs, H, H, Underwood was holding a meeting of faculty
vdves in her own home| the other said at the College, Two gunmen
appeared, one at the front door and one at the back door. They opened
fire. It was not known vrtiether they intended to shoot Mrs, Underwood
or a Korean poet. Miss Mo Yung-Sook, a liaison officer betv;een the
South Korean Government and the United Nations Commission, It v;as not
knovm v;hether the gunmen v/ere political assassins trying to get her,
or whether they vj-ere disgruntled students, Mrs, Underwood died in an
ambulance on the way to the hospital,"
I personally was in the Underwood home in October 19l|8 and had a chance
to see what splendid work was being carried on by the family, Mrs, Underwood has
alv;ays been in the forefront of the organization for service to the Korean people,
and her personality and Christian love has reached out to all, and especially to
those in need. Our hearts go out in sympathy to Dr, Underv/ood and family.
Letters maj'' be addressed to Dr, Horace H, Underwood, Ur, and Mrs, Horace
Grant Underwood, and Rev, John T, Underwood at Chosen Christian University, Seoul,
Korea, The children in this country may be addressed as follows:
Rev, and Mrs, James H, Under?/ood, Presbyterian Manse, Hancock, New York
Mr, Richard F, Underwood, 18 Carnegie Hall, Hamilton College, Clinton, N,Y,
Miss Grace Margaret Underwood, Hood College, Frederick, Maryland
Sincerely,
John Coventry Smith
March 17 , 19^9
Tear Friends of Ethel's:
Your friend and my dear wife has gone to be with God, There is no one of whom
it is so impossible to believe that death is the grave as of a Christian spirit
like hers.
In a sense her going v/as blessed. She taught her class of boys v/hom she loved,
she came back to a meeting in her home of v/omon whom she loved. Two armed men broke
in. She grappled v/ith one and the other shot her. She died in a short time ap-
parently without great pain — no lingering illness.
She taught her class at 1 :0C P.M. and came home at two o'clock for a meeting of
the faculty women's club. The meeting v/as in progress when a man came through the
back door and kitchen and another came in the front door. She saw the man strug-
gling with the cook and ran out. ■‘Ihe apparently grappled v;ith the man v/ho came
through the front door, and the man v/ho c-amc through the back door knocked do'/m the
cook and fired twice. One shot entered her bacK and passed out under her right breast.
After the men fled the others tried to maJao her comfortable on the floor, and
she said in Korean "It is all right." She did not speal*. aeain. They got a mattress
and a car and rushed her to the hospital and called us (Horace, Joeev and John and !)•
V/e rushed to the hospital but she was gone v/hon I got there, and apparently died on
the way there.
The Communists have recently been threatening to kill those who are "teaching
capitalism." They have also been recently attacking, women and children as the best
way to terrify the men. I have long said that some day the Communists would decide
that the time had come to kill some v/ell kno’.m American "to shov/ the world that the
Koreans hate the American imperialists." It is no exaggeration to say that there was
probably no one so widely loved in all Korea as Mrs. Underwood and this made her a
good mark. She would feel, most diccp] y nr.ru (could she still be further hurt; if
through her the good name of Korea was tarnished. I beg of you in her name to not
feel that Koreans are to blame. Already (within tv/o hours of the affair) we have
heard from the President of Korea, the Prime Minister j a representative of the As-
sembly and other high officials. They arc doing ovorj^hing in their pov/ei* to catch
the assassins, though neither Ethel nor I want any Korean executed on our account.
I cannot do her v/ork, I cannot write her letters. You will find me a poor cor-
respondent. She knew and loved you all. She knew v/horo you lived, v/hat happened
to you, and rejoiced v/ith or sympathized with you in your joys and sorrows. I will
try to answer your letters but am not too optimistic about being able to do so.
Korea still needs your relief paci:.ages, I will try and ac^cnowlcdgc them.
\Iq shall go on as best v.’o c<an — God v:ill give me strength I beliov©. I am
writin" this in the wee hours of the morning, just about twelve hours after she was
killed. I am going to get Joan to mimeograph it and address the twelve hundred or
fifteen hundred envelopes that arc needed to reach your I do not know when this will
bo done.
She loved you, sho loved to think that you loved and thought of Korea. She
would have you continue that thought, that love, those prayer!^. Uc all need prayers;
our children, I, the Koreans, the communists. "Prayer availcth much."
Let us have those prayers for Korea.
Yours in the grief of loss
and in the Joy of Faith,
Horace Underwood
The Funeral of a Missionary
Mrs, Ethel Underwood
I have v/ritten to sorae of Ethel's friends the first crushing nev:s of her
death and have written to our children a brief account of the funeral, I find it
difficult to contemplate writing this over and over again so I aiTi writing this to
be distributed to the friendS;, for it seems to me that there are inescapable
inferences which may be of interest to many of you and that may help the cause of
Christianity to which she gave her life, not only on March 17, 19h9, but ever since
192.2 when she first came to Korea.
As most of you know, she went to the College at o ne p.n , to teach a class
of "her boys'*| at two she hurried hone for the month iy_mgetor^ of the Faculty IVomen's
Club, The ladies came, the meeting was in progress. An armed man burst in through
the front doer, another came through the back door and the kitchen, driving the cook
at the point of a gun, Ethel ran out and grappled v;ith the man vfho came~T:?r' first;
we do not know whether she saw the second man at once or not, Yi/hile she ^7as
struggling with the first, the other man fired .twice, one bullet entering her back
and passing out under the right breast,' ’ The men then went in and threatened the
assembled women, warning them to stay where they were. The men then escaped, • After
some little time the alarm was given and a former servant came and endeavored to
make her more comfortable, she seemed to recognize him and said in Korean, "It is
all right*" After further delay she was taken to the hospital but died before
reaching there or before we, vdio were away from home that afternoon, could get to
her.
The United States Army very graciously offered their facilities at Ascom
City and the body was removed there that night, Thursday, March 17th, We went home
to find the house and grounds full of police, MP's, reporters, etc. Just after dark
a number of Korean friends b§gan tb“cdme to see us to offer condolences and sympathy.
Between the time of her death and the funeral no less the 1 000 peo ple from every
class in the country called. The ivife of the President of the Republic, Cabinet 1
Ministers, College Presidents, refugees, bo 3 rs, girls, old and young. Catholics, |
Greek Orthodox, Protestants, Buddhists, many came as the representatives of largej
groups v/ho did not want to "trouble us" by coming into the house,
On Sund ay after noon. ti:ie body was brought to our home and the casket
reverently laid in the library. It did not seem wise to have i'^open but a few of
Ethel's most intimate friends of the last thirty years begged to XooIT^gain on her
face and v:ere gladly permitted to do so.
On Tuesday, the college students ta^io were to act as pallbearers came and
carried her out to the nev; thr^e-qiUcirter. ton Mission truck "which served as hearse.
The casket w'as literally buri^ in flovfers v^hich had been brought to the house. The
casket was taken to the Church (Is^ Pi^esbyterian Church of Seoul, founded by ray
father) at 10 a.m, and there still o"ther loads of flov/ers arrived. The service v/as
scheduled to' begin at l;3Q. p»m» and we (the family) including our Korean family of
nurse, v/ho served us for 31 years, cook and others, drove to "the church in cars
graciously provided by friends in "the American Mission to Korea. About three blocks
from the church I 'noticed there was no other traffic and found that all tfamb~on
that large artery had been stopped, further on the sidewalk was lined vn.th high
school ^tudents from several of the large Korean schools. As we left the cars to go
up the drive to the church, the people did their best to make way but the whole drive
- 2 -
was so crowded that with the best of rdll on their part it was with difficulty that
we could reach the door. We found the church packed with many standing along the
sides and in the back. Estimates of th^^-^wmber in the church vary widely; my own
guess v/ould place the number at around^500,J Among those attending were: three
cabinet ministers, personal representative* of all the ministries, the wife'~bT~the
President, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Roman C.atholic Bishop of
Korea, the Papal Legate and representatives of all branches of the American Mission
(state Department), the commanding General U.S* Forces in Korea, the British Minister
to Korea and the Church of England Bishop. I have been told since that the crowd
outside grew and swelled until it overflowed the driveway into the street and that
"several thousand" who could not get in stood reverently there.
The service vj-as opened v/ith a few words by our son. Rev, John T. Underwood,
after which the pastor of the church gave the invocation in Korean, "Christ the Lord
is Risen" v;as sung as the hjaiin, and Rev, Edv/ard ^ Ada ms of the Presbyterian Mission
read the Scriptures in English. Commissioner Lord, of the Salvation Army led in
prayer in English. Dr. S, J, Ghey^ Governor of the Bank of Korea, read a brief
account of Ifrs, Underwood's life, stating through his tears that any success he had
made ivas due to her. The Pastor ih.em read the Scripture in Korean after v;hich our
life-long friend. Miss Alice R. Appenzeller, President Emeritus of Sv/ha College for
Women, sang "Love Divine All Love Excelling," Dr, L. GeorgePaik, President of
Chosun Christian University, then made a brief but beautiful address in Korean
follov/ed by prayer in Korean by Rev, 1'L S, Lee, a refugee from the North and co-worker
with Mrs, Underwood in the Home for Girls^n Need, which she had recently founded,
John Underwood led in a funeral' meditation in which he scarcely referred to his
mother but took us all to a higher level in contemplation of the joys of Christian
Birth, Marriage, Death, Resurrection and Eternity, An American enlisted man said
later that he felt he had been lifted up to high places. John pronounced the
benediction in both Korean and English and the pallbearers reverently carried the
casket to the vraiting truck.
On leaving the church and entering the car in the street I was astonished
to see the street lined with police, one every ^0 to 75 yards, vdth representatives
of local Youth Organizations between the police; mounted police were stationed at
intervals of about every I4.OO yards. All traffic was stopped and, as the funeral
procession passed, the police and Youth Groups saluted while the crowds along the
street bowed. It has been estimated that on the route of four miles to the cemetery
at least 100,000 people lined the street. Even supposing that 90,000 vrere merely
curious observers they must have been impressed. At the cemetery there was some
slight delay to allov^ the last of the long line of cars and chartered busses to
arrive ,
Many from nearby villages, realizing that they would have no chance to get
into the city chui’ch, had'gone "direct to the cemetery and conservative estimates
place the number attending the internment service there at nv ar "This
Is IvJj’’ Ihther's World" v;as sung, and again John led in conducting the service. The
grays'WTas filled and covered deep in flowers; the crov^d departed, and Ethel's body
rests by that of ny mother in a beautiful lot overlooking the river. The Koreans
had heard that we preferred gifts for some phase of Ethel's work rather than flowers,
so before the funeral money pourjed_in until altogether some Won 300,000 was received
which will be used for the Hc»ne for Girls in Need, Put into United States dollars
it is not a tremendous sum, say $U00, lyut from poor people on low salaries in Won
it was a touching tribuite, '
-3-
I am told that a ’’national” memorial service for her is being planned for
April 11th, her birthday, and at that time a much larger sum is to be raised for
some practical memorial to her v;ork. Every newspaper in South Korea except the
extreme left papers- fla rri^^ not only accounts but editorials telling of her life
and v/ork'and^of her death, courageously struggling with two armed men* It is our
prayer that all this may make many think of the power that is in Christ, the Spirit
that is in Him, and find the Salvation He offers* The whole of South Korea has been
startled into a nev; awareness of the nature of Christian work and life. The Blind
Institute, the Association for Deaf and Dumb, all refugee organizations, the many /
orphan asylums she has helped, her former students, representatives of churches /
many miles from Seoul, people of all classes and groups, all united to honor a /
Christian missionary woman.
Rev, Horace H, Under/'ood, Ph.D,
Chosun Christian University
Seoul, Korea
March 27, 19h9
J
Cable Address "Inculcate, New York"
Telephone Watkins 9-2000
foreign Missions and Overseas Jnterekureh Serviee
The Board of Foreign Missions
of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
156 Fifth Avenue, New York 10, N. Y.
Mrs. Horace H. Undenvood
Memorial Minute
Adopted by the Prest^erian Board of Foreign Missions
April 19, 19h9
The Board made record of the death of Mrs. Horace H, Undervrood on March
17, 19^9, at Seoul, Korea.
Miss Ethel Van T/agoner was born April 11, 1888, at Kingston, Michigan. She
graduated from High School in 1907, from Albion Collejge, Albion, Michigan, in 1911,
and in 1925 received her Master’s Degree from the New York University School of
Education. She had become a member of the Methodi st Prote stant Church vdien she was
l6 years of age and, with a strong sense of Chr i s t iarTrSTs s ion, she went to Korea in
1912 as a teacher in the School for Foreign Children at Seoul, There she met Horace
H. Under.vood, whose father was the founder of Chosen Christian College (now Chosun
Christian University), Upon the compD.etion of her term of service she returned to the
United States and applied to the Prestyterian Board for missionary service in Korea.
After her appointment, she was married to Horace Underv;ood on December 6, 191^, and
returned with him to Korea the next year. They were assigned to Seoul in connection
with the College there, and across the long years she assisted her husband at the
College, established her home, raised the children and was active in every good work.
At the outbreak of the war in 19hlj the Underwoods and three of their children were
in Korea, After various experiences of internment, they came to the United States on
board the "M.S. Gripsholm ” in the summer of 19ii2, They were active here in the •
United States for the cause of Korean freedom and at the war’s end Dr, Underwood went
back to Korea with the American Military Governm.ent, Mrs. Underwood follovied her
husband in 19it6. For three years, first vdth the government and then once more with
the College, she served the land which she loved so much.
On March 17, 19h9, I-h’s, Underwood returned from an early afternoon class
at Chosun Christian University. She v^as entertaining the faculty wives at a tea,
where a prominent Korean v^oman v^as to speak. The meeting had already begun and she
v;as sitting near the door of the library, when an armed man broke into the house
from the front. He turned toward the library but lirs, Underwood stopped him. Another
man had come in through the kitchen and had forced the cook to lead him to the meeting.
This second man shot twdce, one bullet fatally wounding Mrs, Underwood, The men then
put masks over their faces, irarned the women to be quiet, and fled, A former servant,
\dio had some experience in first aid, cared for Mrs, Undenvood while the University
car vras being called. Her only words were in Korean, '’It's all right,” She ivas
taken by car to Severance Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Her funeral was held in the First Presbyterian Church in Seoul on March
22nd and she was buried in the cemetery at Seoul. The funeral was an occasion for a
vast outpouring of love and affection on the part of the Korean community. Literally
tens of thousands lined the road from the church to the cemetery and representatives
of the President and of most of the influential Korean and foreign dignitaries were
present.
- 2 -
Mrs, Ethel Underwood’s activity as a missionary v/as not at all limited to
the part that she played as the wife of the President of Chosun Christian University,
There she was active, of course, as a hostess, as a teacher and as friend of faculty
and students, but in her own right she established herself as one of the leaders of
Christian work in Korea, After the war her home was a center of distribution for
relief supplies and just before her death she was considered by many as the
outstanding administrator of church relief in Korea, She was active in the
rehabilitation of refugees and particularly v;as interested in making a home for orphan
girls. This v;as the activity that consumed a good share of her time and energy
ir.imediately preceding her death. Her place cannot be filled by anyone else;
certainly the Christian Church and the nation of Korea have lost a staunch and devoted
supporter.
The tragedy of her death came as a shock in Korea and in other parts of the
world. Expressions of appreciation and sympathy have come to the Board from many
sources, both here in America and abroad. One of her missionary colleagues has
written an article about her entitled, "1^ Most Unforgettable Character," The "Seoul
Times" carried an editorial after“lTer^uheral, in v^rhich it called upon the nation of
Korea for a mood of sober examination in the face of the tragedy that resulted in the
death of one so greatly beloved. A Korean leader has ivritten, "We are proud to have
this friend. She loved us vath her life and v^ith her death, God, help us to be
worthy of her friendship."
Mrs, Underwood is survived ty her husband, who remains at his post in
Korea; by two sons, John and Horace, a daughter-in-law and grandchild, v/ho are v;ith
the Mission in Korea; by three children in the United States, Rev, James T, Underwood,
who vdth his wife and two children lives at Hancock, New York, and Richard and Grace
vdio are still students in college. To all of these, the Board expresses its sincerest
sympathy and prays that God's> comfort may rest upon them.
The first cable from Korea stated that "Ethel Underwood had been shot by
an unidentified assailant," Though considerable time has elapsed and many theories
have been advanced, still ^^e_iicsas sin has not been clearly identified nor has the
motive been fully revealed. It is clear, however, that Mrs, Underv/ood^s death is
one of martyrdom for the Cause of Christ, In carrying on her activities as a
Christian missionary and in the protection of her friends, she gave herself for
them. Her family v/ould be concerned lest there be any undue blame attached to the
Koreans, vJiom she loved better than her ovm life. And they would be concerned if
this tragedy should result in any lessened interest in missionary activity in Korea.
Actually in times past, "The blood of the martyrs has been the seed of the
Church, " There is no reason to believe that this will not be true now. Once in
the early history of the Church in Korea, an Englishman was- shot ty an assassin in
northern Korea. Today the Thomas Me morial ty angelistic Society is active within the
Church in Korea and since the v;ar ha^'ofganized 26 new congregations. Indications
are that MxTs. Underwood's death is also serving as a stimulus to the Christian cause,
both in Korea and in this land, A number of inquiries have come to the Board
concerning the possibility of service in Korea and at least one young couple has
definitely applied to take Mrs, Underwood's place,.
More than 30 years ago, when Miss Ethel Van Wagoner was appointed by the
Board, a Mrs, McKaley in who se home Miss Van V/agoner worked while completing high
school, was asked^l'or her opinion as to Miss Van Wagoner's general fitness for
missionary v/ork. Her answer was as follows: "The best answer I can give is that when
I knew her, she was always lqoking_ilu:!- a.-liard,_4 ob , " Bishop Harrds of the Methodist
Church in Korea was also asked at that time to describe her Christian personality*
He answered with three adjectives: ’’Magnetic, charming, attractive.” On Mrs.
Underwood's application for service, there was the following question: ”Do you
realize that certain privations and sacrifices. ..are often necessarily involved in
a missionary career, and do you seek missionary appointment with the full knowledge
of such possibilities and readiness to meet them with persistent courage for Christ *s
sake?” To this question Mrs. Underwood replied; ”No one knows it better. The work
is worth it all. ”
Such devotion across the years, climaxing in the gift of life itself, is a
humbling challenge to all those who seek to serve the Master.
(Note: The Board participated, in cooperation with the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian
Church of Brooklyn, in a Memorial Service at that church on the evening of April 8,
i9Ua)
Chosiin Christian University
Seoul, Korea
May 1948
Dear Friends. :
Things do move under God’s guidancel Since writing you the Mission lias been formally re-
organized after a lapse of seven years; Severance Medical College has called Dr. Fletcher and two Cana-
dian nurses and the whole institution is on the upgrade; our girls’ school is doing well under Mrs Pilyi
Kim, one of the finest of our educated Christian women, (a childhood playmate of Horace’s!); The AYest
Gate Church (Dr. Underwood’s old church) has been completely rebuilt and is a splendid Christian
witness to all who pass; the C. C. University moves on even with Dr. Paik speaking among you in America;
the Alumni have completed the new statue of Dr. H. G. Underwood to replace the one destroyed by the
Japs; the AVCTU held its first conference since 1938, secured two full time workers; by their request
the Foreign Auxilliary lias been reorganized- the WCTU will be really busy from now on!
We started the year joyfully with 98 New Year’s day callers. Since then we have had almost 300
guests at our table, some sixty committees and conferences in our library and many friends have spent
the night with us. Horace Grant took over one of my classes but even so I had 205 exam papers to
grade in February and have had 482 compositions to correct. More than 700 letters have been written
to generous friends. Few reports have been sent even where most needed.
Relief work has been strenuous and exciting : for weeks we have nothing to distribute but try to
comfort those sent away empty handed. Then comes a truck load of goods or parcels by post. Bales
and packages must be opened, address noted, so that letters however inadequate, may be sent. Helpers
are called in to sort clothes and make up bundles for families to send to churches and camps, the house
is cluttered with great piles none of which must be “mixed up”! From Dec. 9th to the end of the year
7G76 persons recieved clothing here. Since the New Year 19,789 people in 4,05G families living in 114
communities have been given help from this house. To tins must be added 1598 pairs of IiARA shoes,
1G72 garments made for men, and 493 quilts made from LARA scraps and patlded with Korean donated
cotton. These 30,000 helped still leaves a list of 5423 unfilled requests! W® need your help, j’our 22
lb International Post Packages. Men are our greatest problem. The^’ must have clothes or they cannot
work, teach or preach.
By contrast with the clothing situation S. Korea is well fixed for food, but the improvement in
babies fed on powdered milk in February was so great that we have tried to broaden this field of
service. In Seoul alone G1 milk stations feeding 9230 children have been opened and 37 more districts
are clamoring for milk to feed 5410 other children! To ran these adequately will take 40 tons a month,
480 tons a year of milk! A careful survey is being made to determine what can and what AIUST be
done. As it is now the milk does not fall like manna but requires weekly trips from National to
Provincial to City AA'elfarc OflSces and back to Food Administration, and once secured is hauled by us
in a long suffering jeep and trailer.
I thank you for Readers Digests. Please continue to send your used 1948 issues. Tablets, pencils,
notebooks are always needed:
Good news which cannot be omitted is the wonderful record of Korea’s first ellection-ovcr 90?^ of
possible voters registered and over 30 % of those registered actually went to the polls to an election
conducted with a degree of peace and order tliat would shame many long established democracies! May
God grant that these people achieve real independence and tliat they may not again be the victim of
Godless force.!
S trees of relief work and hundreds of callers on relief has made me neglect all of you. Even
now time fails to tell of the beauties of the gai’den of, John now en route to Tientsin via L. S. T to bring*
back more refugees, of Joan operating milk stations for 14C0 babies, of Horace Grant or of our grand-
son. We hope you will forgive, w’ill remember Korea and pray for Korea, for Koreans and for those
working with them;
Your help-material help and spiritual help is greatly needed and deeply appreciated;
Sincerely
Ethel Underwood
KOREA MISSION
OF THE
BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS
OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE U.S.A.
April 8, 1949
Dr. Harry A. Rhodes
Presbyterian Church
Ravenswood* West Virginia
Dear Dr. Rhodes;
I have both of your letters* December 2 and March 22* before me. I
presume by now you have received the mimeographed letter which I sent out
so that you have the news enclosed. This is Just to acknowledge these two
letters from you.
You may have also received the new publication "Korea Calls". How
widely this was distributed* I do not know. It w«^ being edited in place
of the Korea Mission Field by the missionaries on the field with Joan
Underwood as editor. However* it is being published in Berkeley by
E. H. Miller. I do not think it is intended to be primarily a news sheet.
You asked about the *^ff'n1n°ry Tt really is in a very critical
situation. Things are heading up for a first-class head-on collision* I
am afraid. General Assembly meets on the 19th where the whole problem
will come to a head. We are hoping and praying that it can be solved
without a split in the church. As a Mission* we have tried to maintain a
more or less neutral position* but even neutrality sometimes tends to throw
you on one side or the other euad both sides continuously accuse us of being
on the other side. "If only*" they say, "we would come on side it
would give such strength that the problem would be quickly settled".
The fact that one seminary has technical recognition of the General Assembly
seems to be somewhat aside from the point for on several occasions the
Board of Directors have flouted the desires of the Assembly. We are still
working for a reconciliation* but a letter just received from Ham Tae Yung
in reply to one of mine would seem to Indicate it was almost hopeless*
Your last letter I will present to the Executive Committee which meets
in a week. We will then try to get someone on the job of preparing the
information you want. I do not know of anyone leaving for the States im-
mediately* but we will be on the look-out for an opportunity to ship the
materials here back to you*
May God bless you and Mrs. Rhodes as you continue to serve Him both in
your church at Ravenswood and in this job for the Korea Mission.
Very cordially*
Edward Adams
A MEETING WITH KOREAN EDUCATORS
by
Rev. Harry A, Rhodes, D. D.
JJay 3 , I9U6
On April 11, 19^6 a group of Korean educators arrived in Washington, D*C#, as
guests of the United States government which is trying by this visit to aid the Korean
people in establishing a free educational system# A part of the plan is to initiate
an exchange of students and instructors between this country and Korea,
During the first week of May this group of six visited New York for a few days
and on the afternoon of May 3rd they were invited to the Assembly Room of the Presby-
terian Board of Foreigyi Missions to meet an inter-denominational group of missionaries
and Board socrotaries, and to have tea together.
In addition to graduation from schools in Korea, Japan and China, all six had
been graduated from collegos and universities in this country. In all they had attend-
ed 25 different schools and colleges on both sides of the Pacific and has received 12
degrees in this country including B#S#, M,A# and Ch#E# from Columbia University; M»A,
and Ph,D# from the Ikiiversity of Michigan; l'i,D,from Emory University and Ph#D. from
the University of So# California# Five of the six had attended Mission s chools in
Korea and all six are Christians#
They were selected, of course, because of their educational qualifiqations.
This is indicated by the vrork they have done and by the positions to wrhiclFl^Ve been
appointed in Korea by the United States government. Their names and various fields in
education are as follows: (According to Oriental custom the surname is given first)#
Chang Lee Wook was principal of a Boys* Academy in Syenchun ^ the north of
Korea, an'd lias 'been appointed as Head of the Sooul Normal College,
Kim Hoon Lincoln, who has traveled around the world, is to bo the Administrative
Officer of the Buro'au of Agriculture and ComiTiercc in Korea,
Miss Koh Vfhang Kyxmg, teacher of Economics and Sociology in Ewha College for
Y/omen in Seoul, Principal of the Kyunggi Girls School in Seoul,
Koo Byron R, S#, who for some years v/as Doan of the Severance Union Modical
College in Seoul and Professor of Pediatrics, is to bo Head of Medical Education of
South Korea,
InhKi][fo,v/ho has served under the U, S, Military Command as Chemical Engineer,
is to be Executive Secretary of tho Technical Supervisory Board of the Bureau of Mining
and Industry,
Moon Chang Yfook, who has been Professor of History and English in tho Methodist
Theological Seminary in Sooul, has been appointed Civilian Secretary of Foreign Affairs
under the U# S# Army Military Governraent,
Dr# Koo is the oldest of the group. He was on the Staff of the Severance Union
Medical College and Hospital for more than twenty years, from which institution an
estimated 6 OO Korean physicians have graduated (complete statistics not available)
and 300 Korean nurses from the Nurses* Training School, Dr, Koo is one of the out-
standing and consecrated leaders of the Korean Methodist Church,
2
Dr* Koh is the youngest of the group and in some respects the most highly
trained* She has an LL*B* in law from Doshisha University in Japan; she received her
M*A* and Ph*D* degrees from the University of Michigan* She belongs to a remarkable
family* Her grandfather Koh was one of the first Korean elders in the Fusan Church in
South Korea* Her father, M* H* Koh, M*D*, as a boy received his first lessons in
English from the v;ife of a medical missionary in Fusan; became a fine surgeon who has
taken post-gradmte courses in medicine in this country; and is an elder in the church.
This daughter took for herself the English name "Evelyn" while her sister who is a
graduate of Georgia Wesleyan College in music, is known by the name "Gladys", ^
These two girls, contrary to Korean custom, are not married* They are full-time
Christian workers in music, education and social service* They organized social welfare
T/ork in one of the most populous suburban districts of Seoul* With the help of Korean
and American friends they have financed the project* An interesting interview with
Miss Evelyn Koh appeared in the New York Times of May 6 under the title, "Freedom is
Sought for Korean Yfomon"* Miss Koh is now in Grand Rapids, Michigan where she will
address the National Association of ..Presbyterian Women of the Presbyterian Church, U,S,A*
It was to be expected that these six Korean educators in meeting a group of
missionaries and Board secretaries on May 3 in New York would not bo free to speak on
political conditions in Korea, since they are in this country as guests of the U* S*
government* They did, however, tell us something about the condition of the Christian
Church in Korea* For the most part their reports were encouraging* They doubted how-
ever, that the Union Korean Church which was organized under Japanese pressure, will
continue to function* There is a division also over certain Korean Church leaders who
were forced to yield to Japanese demands in the matter of obeisance at the Shinto shrines.
Incidentally, the main Shinto shrin e in Korea known as the Mejii Shrine, located on South
Moxmtain inside the city of Seoul and costing 2, 000 , Q00_Yen to build, has been tom
down; on the site this year an E aster su nr ise servaoe~was held.
One unforgettable impression that these six educators Made on the missionaries
and Board secretaries present was the deep appreciation, amounting to affection, of the
Koreans, for the missionaries; of the lasting good results of missionary vrark in Korea;
and of the Koreans* desire that all the missionaries might be returned to Korea soon
to help reorganize the Christian movement in this new day of Korea»s freedom, at least
in the south*
The political situation in Korea is impossible with the country divided at the
38th parallel* As yet under Russian occupation in the north, where t\vo-thirds of the
Christians live, there is no freedom; and Koreans report conditions there worse than
they were under the Japanese* In the south, however, where -two-thirds of the population
of Korea is to be found, there is hope for better things* The bringing of these Korean
educators to this country is only one item# Preceding -them ten Korean physicians came
who are now studying at Har-vard and John ‘Hopkins Universities and at the University of
Michigan* It is hoped that the return of the missionaries to Korea will be accelerated
by the State Department* No other group of friends of the Korean people can be of more
help to them at this time# Already many Christian leaders are officials in the Korean
government I’diich is being formed under the U*S# Military Occupation and which the Koreans
desire to bo continued as long as the Russians are in the north.
Again as after the Russo-Japanese war in 1905» Korea suffers from a bad decision
meuio by the "big" powers; this time it is from the decision made at Yalta or at Potsdam,
which postpones fulfillment of the promise made at Cairo* Had the American occupation
extended throughout Korea, the period of "trusteeship" could have been shortened, Korea
would have been able to form her o-wn government, and the successful "Philippine experi-
ment" would havG been repeated* Meanwhile, Korea must -wait for the realization of the
freedom she thought she -was obtaining; and v/hilo v/aiting -there will be -the doubt v/hether
/
3
or not Russia will evacuate north Korea, into v/hich as yot no missionaries arc allowed
to ontcr. The equipment of some churches, both Catholic and Protestant, in north Korea
has been destroyed by the Russians and Korean Communists* Pastors and other church
officers have been imprisoned*
Hov/over, the right v/ill finally win* The strong Christian church in north Korea
will survive the storm* The evangelization of the Korean people, though temporarily
interrupted, v/ill finally be consummated* Not even Russia v/ill bo allowed to thwart
God*s purposes in the end* Wo believe the Christian forces in this and other lands
v/ill not bo discouraged* Prayer and work under the power of the Holy Spiri-^vpAl
bring complete freedom to the Korean people and the Korean Church* The six /Christian
educators whom wo mot are only a few of a largo number of capable Korean leaders who
are prepared to load in the ro-ostablishmont of their country to take her place among
the free nations of the world*
Princeton, 1|* J
May 10 , 19^6
B 2 .rry A* Rhodes
LETTER FROM DR. HARRY RHODES
Seoul, Korea, November 20, 19U6
Dear Fellow Missionaries:
Knowing that you are eager for more and more news from Korea, I am writing
this second letter to be mimeographed and sent out by the Board.
The second meeting of the Emergency Executive Committee was held in Seoul
in the Holder of t-Kumabe house, November 6 and 7 in four long sessions, with all mem.*
bers present: Dr. Rhodes, Chairmanj libr. Coen, Secretary; Dr. Blair, Dr. Lampe, Ifr. E.
Adams, Dr. Fletcher, and Mr. Voelkel.
A summary of the actions taken is as follows: Dr. Blair was asked to reside
in Taiku vhere Edward Adams is overloaded with Korean and Station v<rork. Before leav-
ing Seoul on November 15, Dr. Blair conducted meetings with tho 3 OO students and
faculty of tho Presbyterian Theological Seminary with very marked spiritual results,
so m\,ioh so that ho v/as asked to continue tho meetings, which was impossible at tho
present time. Now in Taiku, ho. Dr. Crane, and othcis are assisting in a retreat for
pastors and officers of tho Presbyterian General Assembly of South Korea. This is
to be fcllov/cd by a Biblo Class for tho Taiku district, and later by a session of
the Hon^s Biblo Institute.
Mr. Coen vrc,s appointed to secure, if possible, books in English from America
for Koreans and Korean Institutions, fcny of you may bo ablo to help in this. Tho
United States postal authorities hero toll mo that packages marked "Books'* can bo sent
by ordinary mall at 12/ per pound (with a limit of i; pounds 6 ouncos) to missionaries,
as vrcll as to Koreans » In lino v;ith this action, tho Prosbycorian Theological
Seminary hero sent in a formal request for a full-time teacher and for books for thoir
libra^'yc Wo replied that while wo could not assign to tho Seminary a full-timo teacher
(Mr« Coon and Ifr. Fraser are already assisting), wo would try to help in the securing
of books-
A request from Kyungpuk Presbytery to assist in tho founding of a University
in Taiku, including a theological department, v/as declined. l-£r. Adams v/as given per-
mission to grant Presbytery tho temporary uso of tho Biblo Institute Building for a
session of tho institute. Mr. Coen, Dr. Fletcher and Dr. Rhodes wore appointed tho
Mission reprosontatives on tho Board of tho Chungsin Girls* School of Seoul. Vfo have
had two mootings of the Board v/ith Mrs. Choi (Kim Pilloy) who has consented to act as
Principal for the present. The Korean members want to open the School in December,
but it may not bo possible to open until Soptombor of tho next yoar.
It was voted to present to tho authorities here, for immediate return, tho
names of I/Ir. and iiTs. John J. Genso, Rev. and Mrs. Archibald Campbell, Misses Daisy F.
Hendrix, Mhrion E. Hartnoss, Joan Doimartor, Rev. Goorgo F. Adams and Rev. John Y.
Crothcrsc Since we mot vro have word that Mrs* Crothers may be ablo to cone also. Mr.
George Adams has writton that he hopes tc sail in January.
Wo are informed that the list vto presented after our Soptenbor mooting has
been approved. Tho names presented w'oro: Mrs. Henry W. Lampe, Mrs. Archibald Fletcher,
llbrsa Ed\7ard Adams, litrs' Frederick S. Miller, Misses Olga C® Johnson and Edna M. Lai'rcrxjo.
In additaon^ tho Emergency Executive Committee has approved tho rot\u*n of Misses Gorda
0* Bergman and I/Iinnio C, Davie; Dr. and lirs. Welling T. Cook, ReV' and Itrs. Harry J.
Hill;. Rev, and Mrs. Charles L. Phillips, but their names have not boon presented hero
untij. wo have v/ord from tho Board that tho persons named can come? Additional names
will be considered at our mooting on Dooombor 17* As yet permission is not given to
wives with children to return.
Seoiaring passage is another obstacle to overeomo in addition to securing
passports < but since yesterday in "Stars and Stripes” announces that the shipping
strike is believed to be over, sailings for the Far East may bo possible# Experience
shows that it is much better to get passage on a ship coming to Korea even though it
stops in Japan# To disembark in Japan causes many days* delay and the hardships of
train and ferry travel to Korea# In addition to the information you get from the
Board, if you have questions to ask about what goods and how much to bring, write
to Dr# Fletcher or myself, Wo are trying to gather information at this end and will
send it to the Board as socm as possible# Miss Edith G# Myers arrived last week by
air-plane from America in only a few days"* time# After working in Seoul a few weeks,
she thinks she may bo assigned to Quopart# Bruce Hunt is hero and has located in
Fusan#
Cur Committee extended a cordial invitation to Dr# John D# Bigger to return
to the work of the Mission and urges the Board to do everything possible to hold him
for a Mission assignment as soon as it is possible# His contract with the Allied
Military Govexuamont terminates on December 22# He is undecided as to whether or not
to renew it# Hhany event ho will probably make a short trip to America# A satisfac**<»
tery mission assignment may not bo available at once#
Arrangements with the United States Army authorities to provide living
quarters for members of the Mission, as they return to tho field, are going on satis-
factorily in all the four Stations in South Korea# A contract for Taiku, similar to
tho one for tho Yundong compound in Seoul, was presented to the Committee# Ifr.Voelkel
wi’itos that a beginning has already been made in Andong, and Dr# Lampe reported that
arrangements have been concluded in Chungju# You will bo interested to know that Dr#
Lampe is acting as temporary chaplain for our United States forces in Chung ju#
Vfo have begun to consider tho survey vhioh tho Board asks us to mke for
"Re-entering Occupied Fields"; it is on tho docket for our December meeting# At that
time vrc expect to arrange a conference with all our missionaries in Korea, including
those in government and Red Cross service. The number has boen increased by tho
arrival of Mrs# Horace G# Underwood, in addition to Miss Myers#
Mr# Coen and myself are appointed on a sub-committee to consider requests
for personal property losses and present them at our next meeting# He has the lists
which many of you presented but perhaps not all# If you have any questions or in-
formation as to yoia* own list please write to J'r# Coon# In several of tho lists pre-
sented to him, prices are net given and we will need this information#
At tho time of our meeting on November $ and 7# also had a meeting in the
Bible House with representative Koreans of the General Assembly, and v;ith members of
other Missions in tho home of Dr# Jenson, including Drs# Crane and Hopper and Mr#
George Anderson from out of town# Those meetings wore for consultation only, particu-
larly in regard to our union institutions#
It needs to bo emphasized again that tho immediate future of our work depends
very much upon tho solution of the exchange problem* of vjhich there is no announoement
as yet# If wo were thrown on our ovm. with tho official rate of I 5 to 1 still in force,
it would bo too expensive for tho Board to support many missionaries hero# As it is
we are limited, and all v/ho return must expect to do what they can within these limi-
tations, as well as endiore many inconveniences in travel and living conditions# It is
perhaps just as well that tho complete mission force vdll not be hero this winter#
Each evening at nine the group of us hero moot for Bible reading and prayer#
Messrs# Fraser, Scott, Fletcher, Coen and myself; also others who nay bo hero as guests#
During our meetings ten of us slept in ‘Uiis housoj. Day by day wo ore often baffled as
to hovr to proceed# Re lations vd.th the JCor eons- and with the Ifeitod States Army au-
thdritics are cordial# IWb^foel very much tho need of Divine guidance# You also, wher-
ever you are, can join us in our petitions »
5
As y'ot v/o have no coinmunioation from Now York as to \vhen it nay bo possible
for the Board*s Deputation to visit Korea*
Meanwhile in the nidst of not a few disoo\iragenents# God’s work of Grace is
manifested# Ifr* Fraser was present last Sunday in the morning sorvioo of a new church
organized a year ago not far distant from Yudong, in the direction of Nansan# Ho saw
thirty cqllogQ stxide*^bfi„-( 23 ^boys and 7 girls) baptized#^^ The Conrnunion service was
?TSSiauctod by Rev# Andrew Whan^ (TTKang'XKT ^ vdio graduated from the Seminary
in Tokyo and whilo'^'^student there ims in prison for five months# He was permitted
to have books for reforonces .'in writing a competitive essay on the ’’History of Pro-
testant Christianityj students from twenty-tv/o seminaries in Japan competed* One
hundred fifty-six essays were submitted and li** lhang's was voted tho first prize by
the judges* Night after night he appears in the churches of Sooul and Kyungkui
province, showing an Italian film of tho ’’Life of Christ ” and rociting from memory
passages of tho Gospols in explanation* Ho is an accomplished musician and plays vroll
half a dozen different instrments in turn* In all his meetings ho is evangelistic
and spiritual#'
Thanksgiving and Christmas this year for us missionaries will bo different*
Wo will be thinking of the splendid dinners o.nd tho delightful fellowship which wo
enjoyed together in former years# However, tho Korean Christians are now taking their
Thanksgiving offering and will bo observing Christmas as usual, and vire Liissionaries
will join with them* There is still much for which to bo thankful, and the true moan-
ing of Christmas is always present whorovor there are sincere Christians* Ails o wo can
looiC forward hopefully to the future vdion missionary groups vdll bo in happy fellowship
in Korea again*
Very sincerely,
Harry A* Rhodes
Headquarters USAMGIK
Chaplain’s Office
liPO 235* 0/0 Postmaster
San Francisco, California
CABLE ADDRESS -INCULCATE. NEW YORK*
telephone WATKINS 9-2000
THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS
OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
156 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK lO. N. Y.
Airmail
Dr. Harry A. Rhodes
170 S. Marengo Avenue
Pasadena 5, California
Dear Dr, Rhodes:
Thank you for your letter of October 2, 1947. I
am glad that you will help in the promotional work on the
West Coast, As you surmised, the financial arrangement
for that work belongs to the Home Base Department,
As you say, the situation in Korea seems to grow
worse from month to month. Russia’s suggestion that both
armies withdra^r is no surprise to me for I expected that.
Of course, that would mean that the Communists would take
over and that they would have the backing of the Russian
arny next door. It would simply be another Balkan situa-
tion. Well, we shall see what the Assembly of the U. N.
will do with the problem since it is now on their agenda.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY
October 6, 1947
Cordially yours
A. K. Reischauer
Acting Secretary
